Teen organizes rally in response to Ferguson

Shanita Jackson makes posters at the Henderson County Public Library in Hendersonville on Tuesday as she helps to organize the We Remember: A Memorial for Those Lost to Police Brutality scheduled for Sunday in Asheville.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By MOLLY MCGOWANTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 5:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 5:48 p.m.

Shanita Jackson, 17, reacted with anger and sadness when Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was shot in 2012, but news of Michael Brown's fatal shooting in Ferguson, Mo., earlier this month evoked in her a new emotion.

“This time I felt shame,” said Jackson. “It shouldn't have taken another life for people like me and others to question, 'Why is this happening and why are black men getting shot down and the killers aren't suffering any repercussions?'”

The Early College High senior and slam poet is working with Brody Flowers of Asheville to organize a rally in Pack Square Pavilion on Sunday.

“We're coming together to grieve, and stand in solidarity with Michael Brown and Sean Bell and Oscar Grant, and Trayvon Martin,” Jackson said.

She spent all day Tuesday at the Henderson County Public Library making posters for the rally, depicting the “Hands up, don't shoot” protest that's been sweeping the nation — as well as quotes from other peer activists she's found on Twitter and Facebook.

“I do think that young voices ... young black voices ... really need to be expressed right now,” Jackson said.

She wants her peers to understand that what happened in Ferguson could happen anywhere, and that they've already been conditioned to live in fear of authority figures.

“We are raised to fear the police,” Jackson said. “And we are raised to almost be invisible.”

She said it's nothing her mother has explicitly told her or her brothers, but “When we go out in public, we know not to be loud,” lest they draw attention.

“It's a social cue that we picked up,” Jackson said. “When we pass police officers, they could be the friendliest people in the world, but we avoid eye contact. We know that black life isn't valued as it should be.”

In the same vein, Jackson and her mother are always concerned when her 19-year-old brother leaves the house and walks to the gym, asking him to “Please call us when you get to where you're going.”

“I'm honestly tired of having to live with that mentality,” Jackson said.

She said Sunday's rally, scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., will be a peaceful one, and the Facebook event — “We Remember: A Memorial for Those Lost to Police Brutality” — reinforces that.

“Our main concern is letting people know their rights,” Jackson said, adding that a speaker lineup is in the works. “I understand that this protest isn't going to be an end-all, be-all solution, but it's a step in the right direction. It's better than me sitting in my living room, crying and yelling at the TV.”

<p>Shanita Jackson, 17, reacted with anger and sadness when Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was shot in 2012, but news of Michael Brown's fatal shooting in Ferguson, Mo., earlier this month evoked in her a new emotion.</p><p>“This time I felt shame,” said Jackson. “It shouldn't have taken another life for people like me and others to question, 'Why is this happening and why are black men getting shot down and the killers aren't suffering any repercussions?'”</p><p>The Early College High senior and slam poet is working with Brody Flowers of Asheville to organize a rally in Pack Square Pavilion on Sunday.</p><p>“We're coming together to grieve, and stand in solidarity with Michael Brown and Sean Bell and Oscar Grant, and Trayvon Martin,” Jackson said.</p><p>She spent all day Tuesday at the Henderson County Public Library making posters for the rally, depicting the “Hands up, don't shoot” protest that's been sweeping the nation — as well as quotes from other peer activists she's found on Twitter and Facebook.</p><p>“I do think that young voices ... young black voices ... really need to be expressed right now,” Jackson said. </p><p>She wants her peers to understand that what happened in Ferguson could happen anywhere, and that they've already been conditioned to live in fear of authority figures.</p><p>“We are raised to fear the police,” Jackson said. “And we are raised to almost be invisible.” </p><p>She said it's nothing her mother has explicitly told her or her brothers, but “When we go out in public, we know not to be loud,” lest they draw attention.</p><p>“It's a social cue that we picked up,” Jackson said. “When we pass police officers, they could be the friendliest people in the world, but we avoid eye contact. We know that black life isn't valued as it should be.” </p><p>In the same vein, Jackson and her mother are always concerned when her 19-year-old brother leaves the house and walks to the gym, asking him to “Please call us when you get to where you're going.”</p><p>“I'm honestly tired of having to live with that mentality,” Jackson said.</p><p>She said Sunday's rally, scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., will be a peaceful one, and the Facebook event — “We Remember: A Memorial for Those Lost to Police Brutality” — reinforces that.</p><p>“Our main concern is letting people know their rights,” Jackson said, adding that a speaker lineup is in the works. “I understand that this protest isn't going to be an end-all, be-all solution, but it's a step in the right direction. It's better than me sitting in my living room, crying and yelling at the TV.”</p><p>___</p><p>Reach McGowan at molly.mcgowan@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7871.</p><p>___</p><p>Follow Molly McGowan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TNmollymcgowan</p>